Lack of model leaders

One of the nation's problems is its lack of model leaders. It is difficult for us to find a real leader who can set a good example to the nation. There may be some people with high leadership ability, but they -- unfortunately -- are not public officials with authority to lead the nation.

We have suffered from a corrupt mentality, which has attacked both private and state-owned institutions. Anticorruption drives have been fruitless.

It is obvious that a corrupt mentality is caused by a crisis of morality, which has hit most of the nation's elite. Hence, statements by vice chairman of the National Commission on Human Rights Salahuddin Wahid that leaders of mass organizations must set a good example in the current anticorruption moves. He made the comments when referring to statements made by leaders of Nahdlatul Ulama and Muhammadiyah (respectively the largest and second-largest Muslim organizations) on their moral drive against corruption.

The drive won't work unless leaders of mass organizations set good examples to the people on how to behave.

The nation badly needs real leaders who can become models for the public.

-- Republika, Jakarta